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Introduction
College footballs are iconic symbols of the sport and have been for decades. But why do we see so many college footballs with stripes on them? It’s a question that has been asked by fans, players, and analysts alike – what is the purpose of those stripes? To provide insight into this curious phenomenon, let’s take a look at why college footballs have stripes.
The History Behind Striped Footballs
The first striped football was designed in 1941 when professional American Football League founder Red Grange used it during an exhibition game between the Chicago Bears and New York Giants. At the time, Grange wanted to make his team stand out from other teams and decided to add black horizontal lines on white balls. This small change made all the difference as spectators were able to better follow plays due to improved visibility of both teams’ uniforms against their respective home fields – they were also more visually appealing! Since then, striped patterns have become commonplace among collegiate footballs.
The Purpose Of Stripes On College Football
Stripes aren’t just aesthetically pleasing; they serve an important purpose when playing college ball games as well. During night games or in adverse weather conditions (such as rain), stripes can help players track the ball more easily since there will be increased contrast between colors – making it easier for quarterbacks especially to spot open receivers downfield more quickly than if there were no lines present! Additionally, having bright colors helps ensure that both teams can distinguish their own balls from each other; this reduces confusion on-field which may lead to penalties or delays in playtime due to miscommunications between players.
Conclusion
At its core, adding stripes onto college football serves two key purposes: providing enhanced visibility for players and creating a distinctive look that sets one school apart from another – whether competing or cheering along in stands! While not essential components of gameplay itself (it could certainly be done without them!), these cleverly placed strips offer unique value during competitive matches while giving viewers something memorable about each school’s identity every weekend!